# US 12,109,387 B2 · Connector coupling assembly

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- Number: US 12,109,387 B2
- Document ID: US12109387B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/985,386
- Filed: 2022-11-11
- Published: 2024-05-16
- Granted: 2024-10-08
- Earliest claimed: 2022-11-11
- Assignees: CareFusion 303, Inc.
- Applicants: Carefusion 303, Inc.
- Inventors: Raymond P. Feith
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12109387B2

## CPC

- A61M 39/10: Tube connectors or tube couplings
- A61M 39/1011: {Locking means for securing connection; Additional tamper safeties (A61M39/16 takes precedence)}
- A61M 39/1055: {Rotating or swivel joints}
- A61M 39/165: {Shrouds or protectors for aseptically enclosing the connector}
- A61M 39/18: Methods or apparatus for making the connection under sterile conditions, i.e. sterile docking
- A61M 39/26: Valves closing automatically on disconnecting the line and opening on reconnection thereof {(check valves A61M39/24)}
- F16L 55/1015: {Couplings closed automatically when disengaging force exceeds preselected value (F16L55/1007 takes precedence)}
- A61M 2039/1016: {Unlocking means providing a secure or comfortable disconnection}
- A61M 2039/1027: {Quick-acting type connectors}
- A61M 2039/1061: {Break-apart tubing connectors or couplings}
- A61M 2039/1066: {having protection means, e.g. sliding sleeve to protect connector itself, shrouds to protect a needle present in the connector, protective housing, isolating sheath}
- A61M 2039/1077: {Adapters, e.g. couplings adapting a connector to one or several other connectors}
- A61M 2039/268: {wherein the stem portion is moved for opening and closing the valve, e.g. by translation, rotation}
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL

## Abstract

A coupler may include a coupler body including a first end, a second end, an outer surface, an inner surface defining a cavity, and a wall defined between the inner and outer surfaces, a plurality of first retaining fingers disposed adjacent to the first end and extending radially inward into the cavity, and a mounting aperture defined between a free end of each first retaining finger and the wall. The cavity may be configured to receive a first connector and a second connector. The plurality of first retaining fingers may be radially biased inward toward the cavity and configured to engage against a collar of the first connector to prevent axial motion of the first connector relative to the coupler. The mounting aperture may be configured to receive a pivot shaft of the collar to pivotally couple the first connector relative to a central axis of the coupler body.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A coupler, comprising:
a coupler body including a first end, a second end, an outer surface, an inner surface defining a cavity, and a wall defined between the inner and outer surfaces, the cavity configured to receive a first connector and a second connector;
a plurality of first retaining fingers disposed adjacent to the first end and extending radially inward into the cavity, wherein the plurality of first retaining fingers are radially biased inward toward the cavity and configured to engage against a collar of the first connector to prevent axial motion of the first connector relative to the coupler; and
a mounting aperture defined between a free end of each first retaining finger and the wall, the mounting aperture configured to receive a pivot shaft of the collar of the first connector to pivotally couple the first connector relative to a central longitudinal axis of the coupler body.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The coupler of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first retaining fingers are spaced apart from the first end.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The coupler of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first retaining fingers are circumferentially spaced apart.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The coupler of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first retaining fingers are configured to permit rotational motion of the first connector relative to the coupler.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The coupler of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of first retaining fingers comprises a protrusion extending radially inward.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The coupler of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of second retaining fingers disposed at the second end and extending radially inward into the cavity, wherein the plurality of second retaining fingers are radially biased inward toward the cavity and configured to:
engage against a shoulder of the second connector with a retention force; and
release the second connector by radially expanding in response to a pullout force exerted on the second connector exceeding the retention force.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The coupler of claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of second retaining fingers comprises a ramped protrusion extending radially inward.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The coupler of claim 1, wherein the coupler body further comprises a cutout extending longitudinally from the first end, and a window extending through the wall and disposed at a side opposite to the cutout on the coupler body.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The coupler of claim 8, wherein the cutout and the window are cooperatively formed such that in a coupled configuration of the coupler and the first connector, the first connector is pivotable relative to the coupler body between a first position in which the first connector extends along the central longitudinal axis of the coupler body and a second position in which the first connector extends through the wall via the cutout and the window in a direction transverse to the central longitudinal axis of the coupler body.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The coupler of claim 8, wherein the collar is detachably coupled to the first connector.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The coupler of claim 10, wherein the collar comprises a longitudinally extending slot to allow the collar to be sleeved and fitted onto the first connector.

### Claim 12

A coupler assembly, comprising:
a first connector, including:
a first connector body having a first inlet configured to be coupled to a first portion of tubing and a first outlet in fluid communication with the first inlet; and
a collar sleeved over the first connector body between the first inlet and the first outlet, the collar comprising a body including a pivot shaft extending radially outward from the collar body at opposite sides of the collar body; and
a coupler including:
a coupler body comprising a first end, a second end, an inner surface defining a cavity, an outer surface, and a wall defined between the inner and outer surfaces;
a plurality of first retaining fingers disposed adjacent to the first end and extending radially inward into the cavity, the plurality of first retaining fingers radially biased inward toward the cavity and configured to engage against the collar to prevent axial motion of the first connector relative to the coupler; and
a mounting aperture defined between a free end of each first retaining finger and the wall, the mounting aperture configured to receive the pivot shaft of the collar to pivotally couple the first connector relative to the coupler body.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The coupler assembly of claim 12, wherein the coupler body further comprises a cutout extending longitudinally from the first end, and a window extending through the wall and disposed at a side opposite to the cutout on the coupler body, and wherein the cutout and the window are cooperatively formed to allow the first connector to extend through the wall via the cutout and the window to an exterior of the coupler when pivoted relative to the coupler body.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The coupler assembly of claim 13, wherein the coupler body comprises a central longitudinal axis, and in a coupled configuration of the coupler and the first connector, the first connector is pivotable and rotatable relative to the coupler body from a first position in which the first connector extends along the central longitudinal axis of the coupler body and a second position in which the first connector extends in a direction transverse to the central longitudinal axis of the coupler body.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The coupler assembly of claim 12, wherein the collar is detachably coupled to the first connector.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The coupler assembly of claim 15, wherein the collar comprises a longitudinally extending slot to allow the collar to be sleeved and fitted onto the first connector.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The coupler assembly of claim 12, further comprising:
a second connector, comprising:
a second connector body with a second inlet configured to be releasably coupled with the first outlet of the first connector, and a second outlet configured to be coupled to a second portion of tubing and in fluid communication with the second inlet; and
a shoulder disposed between the second inlet and the second outlet, wherein the shoulder radially extends from the second connector body.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The coupler assembly of claim 17, wherein the first connector and the second connector are at least partially disposed within the cavity, and the plurality of first retaining fingers are radially biased inward to engage against the collar of the first connector to prevent axial motion of the first connector relative to the second connector.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The coupler assembly of claim 18, wherein the coupler body further comprises a plurality of second retaining fingers disposed at the second end and extending radially inward into the cavity, wherein the plurality of second retaining fingers are radially biased inward and are configured to engage against the shoulder of the second connector with a retention force, and the plurality of second retaining fingers are configured to release the second connector by radially expanding in response to a pullout force exerted on the second connector exceeding the retention force.